Welcome to live coverage of Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under. Today we start off in Norwood, just a couple of kilometres outside of Adelaide.
There’s a 8km neutral stage, which is then followed by the official start in Brian Grove. It’s then 130km of riding on the way to the Barossa Valley – no stops for a wine tour – it’s straight off the finish in Tanunda.
Stage 4 has 2 Jayco Sprints. The first is at Kersbrook after 25.3km, followed by the second in Mt Pleasant at 51km. There’s also two climbs as part of the SKODA King of the Mountain.
We start off with a Category 2 climb just five kilometres from the first sprint point in Kersbrook (30.8km) and then a Category 1 climb just 23km from the finish (at 107.4km).
A bunch finish saw German Andre Greipel claim his tenth career stage win at the Tour Down Under, including his second this year (he won Stage 1 on Tuesday).
The peloton yesterday were challenged by a four-man breakawy, but managed to haul them in just after the second sprint point.
Greipel’s win gave him the Ochre jersey for today and holds an eight second lead over Martin Kohler, while young Aussie Michael Matthews is back a further four seconds in third. Simon Gerrans from the GreenEDGE team is back in fifth sixteen seconds back.
The German also holds the lead in the Jayco Sprinters classifications (the sprinters jersey though will be worn by Belarussian Yauheni Hutarovich who is in second), while Thomas de Gendt from the Vacansoleil-DCM team is wearing King of the Mountain jersey today with a 2 point lead.
Don’t forget, any questions, thoughts or comments – send them through. We’ll do our best to keep you up to date. We’ll start live blogging on Stage 4 of the SANTOS Tour Down Under from 1130 AEDST (1100 SA Time)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Alright, that'll wrap it up for today. Here's the good news - the last two stages are live on TV. So have you're computer, iPhone, iPad or whatever nearby and join the conversation tomorrow as they climb up Willunga Hill - it'll be outstanding! We're on from 1130 AEDT, 1100 SA Time, 1030 Qld, 1000 NT & 0830 WA
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
General Classification - After Stage 4 Martin Kohler (Sui) (BMC Racing Team) 15:03:34 Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) +0:02 Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) +0:02 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma - Quick Step Cycling Team) +0:06 Simon Gerrans (Aus) (GreenEDGE) +0:08
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
We finally have the official results for Stage 4. Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Phara - Quick Step Cycling Team) 2nd Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 3rd Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling) 4th Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) 5th Rojas, Roberts, Koren, Lagutin & Haussler rounding out the top 10
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
And Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling) has the Sprinters jersey tomorrow.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
So, Stage 4 Results... Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) 3rd Martin Kohler (Ger) (BMC Racing Team) 4th Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) (Movistar) 5th Martin Kohler is the new race leader and he'll wear Ochre tomorrow, Rohan Dennis will wear the King of the Mountain jersey tomorrow
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Martin Kohler (Ger) (BMC Racing Team) has finished 4th. This means he is in the Ochre jersey tomorrow
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Might be Mathews in 4th
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Via Movistar's Twitter feed Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma - Quick Step Cycling Team) 3rd Unknown 4th Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) (Movistar) 5th. Still waiting for official confirmation though.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Official word from the TdU officials - There is a technical issue at the finish line. The results may take some time to come through. Sit tight folks
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Well, we're going to be playing the waiting game a fair bit I'd say. Once we get the results through, we'll give them to you. We know Oscar Freire was the eventual winner of Stage 4... other than that, we're in the dark
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
The gap between the leading group and the rest is more than 6-7 minutes! Stuart O'Grady was in there, as too was Andre Greipel. That's his race officially done for the Tour win. He'll be looking for a win on Sunday in the criterium I'd say
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
There's about 12 riders who were all chasing for the line there. It could take a while to get the official results
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Oscar Freire was 20 seconds behind Greipel, but only 12 seconds behind Martin Kohler. Depending on where Kohler is could determine if Freire takes the lead
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Here they come! Tight bunch of 40 riders... and Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) who gets the win!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
1km left!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
The rest of the pack sauntering to the finish line. They aren't pushing
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
We know Simon Gerrans is definitely in that leading group. But who else is up there? Boasson Hagen? Michael Matthews? Valverde? Who'll get the stage win. About 4km left
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
BMC Racing Team doing a fair bit of work out the front of the leading pack. They lead by 3:30 with 5km to go. Is Martin Kohler in that group?
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
10km left now and the talk is the group of 40 out front is well and truly gone. The other 80-90 aren't working that hard to chase these guys down. The gap is 2:30
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
14km left to go. No Andre Greipel... looks like he's out of it already. He did predict it yesterday. The leading group of 40 riders now 1:10 ahead. Whoever wins this stage will just about lead the event